Note: this was running through my mind so imma address it, im way too lazy to google british slang and incorporate completely accurate dialogue like that all the time so imma just not do that and pretend i did đź‘Ť
thank you to atp for reading this over đź’š
"There's no way she's giving us an exam already!" Bianca seethed, spreading her parchment scrolls and books in front of her like she owned the table. "I'm telling you guys, Professor Artemis is evil! It's only been like three weeks into the term!"
"It's been almost two months, Bianca," Reyna corrected.
"Shut up!"
Annabeth laughed and patted Bianca's shoulder consolingly, but it only earned her a glare from her friend. Professor Artemis was a hard-ass. Everyone in the school, professors and students alike, knew it. And it was even truer now since they were taking her NEWT class.
Right now, Annabeth was supposed to be studying with Bianca, Reyna, and Malcolm (Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw), but they were doing a lot more bitching than anything else.
Reyna cursed in Spanish when she accidentally knocked over her ink, hurrying to clean it up with a napkin before remembering she was a witch. Bemusedly, Annabeth thought they'd been doing that a lot. Forgetting they were people who could literally use magic. Kind of weird when they'd spent the last seven years doing so.
"Woah, careful, Rey," a voice sounded from behind them. Turning around, Annabeth beamed seeing it was Percy. "You're supposed to write with ink, not fingerpaint."
"Fuck off, Jackson," Reyna said, laughing. "By the way, your shirt's wrinkled."
"Your face is wrinkled," he returned immediately, chuckling when she shot him a scathing death glare. "Hey Bianca, Mal. How're you guys doing?"
Malcolm waved at him without looking up as he read his textbook, ignoring them like the diligent student he was. Bianca gestured wildly to the haphazard books in front of her as if to ask, how do you think I'm doing?
Percy laughed and walked behind Annabeth's chair. He slid his hands over her shoulders, massaging them as she let out a relaxed sigh and leaned back against him. Smiling, Percy bent down and pecked her lips, idly recalling the scene from Spiderman whenever he kissed her upside down. She reached up to nestle the back of his neck and keep him there for a moment.
"Ugh, could you two be gross somewhere else?" Bianca asked, but she was smiling happily at them.
Reyna nodded in agreement, smiling too. "Yeah, this is a library not a brothel. Go suck face somewhere else."
Percy gave Reyna the finger without removing himself from Annabeth and she gasped in mock indignation.
"Sure we can!" Annabeth piped up, answering Bianca. She stood up and gathered her stuff before turning to Percy and holding out her hand. "Walk me to class?"
"Of course," he replied, lacing their fingers. He looked back at their friends and waved once. "See you guys later!"
Receiving the same call back, he turned back to Annabeth and knocked his shoulder against hers, smiling dopily when she did it back. He'd miss walking the halls with her once they graduated. There was no certainty about what he'd do after Hogwarts, but he hoped whatever it was, they'd brave it together.
At a sideways glance, he knew she was thinking something similar. He gave her hand a little squeeze, making her look at him. They stared at each other for a moment and she gave a little sigh, smiling at how Percy squeezed her hand again.
"Promise me we'll come back," she said.
It was an offhand comment, but he could detect a subtle waver in her voice. The ache in her had inevitably put an ache in him.
"Of course," he replied reassuringly. "Whenever you want."
After that, they fell into an easy rhythm.
They swung their hands back and forth between them, giggling at some of the incredulous looks they received. As they turned the corner, they noticed a boy, a first year, standing near the windowsill and staring hard at some parchment.
"Eren!" Percy called.
The boy turned and beamed, green eyes lighting up. He ran up to them and gave Percy a hug and then Annabeth. They smiled and ruffled his messy brown hair, chuckling at how he pushed their hands away. Eren Potter was Harry and Hermione's eldest son, a newly instated Gryffindor. At Hermione's request to look after him, Percy and Annabeth had quickly befriended the adorable little kid, loving every minute of it.
"How are you liking Hogwarts so far, Eren? Enjoying your classes?" Annabeth asked.
He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, they're pretty cool. Definitely lives up to what mum and dad said about it for sure. Although, I could do without Potions."
She laughed. "Professor Dionysus, huh? Yeah, he's a bit of a nutcase, but you'll get used to him sooner or later."
He looked doubtful. "I sure hope so."
"What's that you're looking at?" Percy asked, pointing to the parchment.
"Oh." Eren looked a little sheepish. "It's a map of the castle. I kinda keep getting lost on the way to class."
Annabeth's grin lit up her face as she shared a look with Percy. Someone had been the same way back in their first year. Percy made a face like he didn't know what she was talking about, drawing a laugh from her. Together, the two of them helped Eren navigate to his Charms class.
Percy couldn't help but smile as he watched them talk. She was good with kids. He'd seen it many times over the summer with her younger brothers. And now, the sight of her with Eren was making his heart do crazy gymnastics. Simone Biles would be jealous.
Years, years down the line, he could imagine them with at least two or maybe three kids, in a little house somewhere warm and quiet. Percy's heart ached at the thought of her reading to their babies, or fighting with them to take a bath, or the look of pride they'd share when they learned magic.
Was it too early to be envisioning a family?
There were many people who were intimidated by Annabeth. And for good reason, he relented. Besides being the Minister's daughter, sometimes she was kind of intense, her eyes definitely made people falter, and she didn't open up to just anyone. None of them knew a thing, though. They didn't know about how nurturing she could be, or how bright and caring she was. They didn't know that beneath all her layers was just a girl who wanted to be happy.
But Percy did.
He took pride in being the most well versed person in all there was to know about Annabeth Chase. Besides his mother, Annabeth was the only one who'd been there for him, understanding and supporting him at his lowest. And he'd do the same for her.
He stared at her back, tantalized by the way her honey colored hair swayed as she walked. And fuck, he wanted to ignore everything else and just press her against a wall, kissing her for all she was worth.
Annabeth was his best friend way before she became his girlfriend. And now… now, she meant more to him than anything. He wanted to spend every moment with her, talking, hugging, kissing, fucking, or his personal favorite, making love. He wanted to wake up next to her and be the first person she talked to every day and the last person before she went to sleep. She was the one he wanted to see at the end of a long day and share all his secrets with. She was the one who he wanted to comfort and be comforted by whenever anything happened. They could even just be sitting in silence, but as long as they were together, he'd be content. Because the world shined just a little bit brighter when he was with her.
'Girlfriend' didn't really cover all that.
"There you go, Eren."
Annabeth's voice broke him out of his reverie. They had made it to Eren's classroom where the other first years were beginning to file in.
"Think you learned the way now?" She joked.
Eren laughed. "Yeah, I got it. Thanks guys."
Bidding Eren goodbye, Percy once again took Annabeth's hand as they walked to their original destination.
"I still don't understand why you're taking Alchemy of all things," Percy said. "It's a NEWT class. And you're taking three!"
"I like to challenge myself," she replied, shrugging. "Professor Daedalus is extremely respected too. I can learn a lot from him."
He looked at her, unamused. "You watched Fullmetal Alchemist this summer, didn't you?"
She had the decency to look abashed. "It's a good show!"
"You're such a nerd, Chase," Percy teased, grinning.
Annabeth checked his hip with hers. "Hot nerd?"
"Smoldering."
She laughed and it was the most gorgeous sound.
All too soon, they reached Professor Daedalus' classroom. Sometimes he wished this castle was bigger than it already was. That way he'd have more time to walk with her.
There were still a few minutes left before her class began so they lingered just outside the room. Annabeth smiled seeing his perpetually loose tie and the top two buttons of his shirt unfastened. She was pretty sure the only time he ever properly did it up was their first day in this castle. Oh yeah, she definitely noticed him back then. His eyes and smile were kind of hard to miss.
Reaching up, she straightened his tie and then used to draw him closer.
"Hey," he jokingly complained. "The tie makes me look like a cool bad boy."
She laughed and brushed his hair back. "Of course it does, honey."
His hands found her waist, thumbs idly massaging gentle circles into her hips through her skirt. And, Merlin, if he kept doing that, she wouldn't be going to class anytime soon.
"Are we the 'honey' type of couple?"
"No," she admitted, smiling softly. "But I wanted to try it out."
"I don't think I mind it."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, pumpkin."
"Don't make me hurt you."
They laughed.
Her brows knit together seeing the contemplative look on Percy's face as he worried his lower lip, drinking in the sight of her like he was searching for something. She leaned up and kissed him, tugging his lip into her mouth instead and smiling when his grip on her tightened.
Annabeth lightly tapped the side of his head with a finger. "What's going on up there, Seaweed Brain?"
"Nothing, just…" I love you, he wanted to say. So badly. Instead, he wrapped the curly gray lock of her hair around his index finger, smiling as it sprung when he let it go. "You're really pretty."
And from the way she kissed him for that, he wished he'd said it after all.
-xotwod-
Percy was forced awake by the obnoxious jeering of his dormmates. And just when he'd been having a rather nice dream about Annabeth, too. A shame.
It was extremely early, the sky was still dark outside, and yet his friends, who normally slept well past noon during the weekends, were jumping up and down and yelling gibberish. At times like these, he wished he'd applied himself more and become a Prefect that got to have their own room.
He was about to yell at them to shut up when he remembered what today was. October 28th. The first Quidditch match of the year.
Of course. That'd explain it.
He should've been more excited considering he was on the team and it would be his debut as Seeker, but he couldn't find it in himself to care about anything until he'd spent at least twenty minutes in the shower. A morning person, he was not.
But when he saw the half wrapped package beside his bed, a smile broke out on his face. The Firebolt he'd been sent a week prior. The note was still attached to it.
I heard from a little bird that you made the Quidditch team. Congratulations! Kick some ass!
From anonymous, of course. But he had an inkling as to who it could be.
The Great Hall was filled with excited chatter. The Quidditch season was kicking off with a classic matchup between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Percy and Annabeth had both made it onto their house teams as Seeker and Chaser, respectively.
"Sorry, Wise Girl," Percy said when he reached where she was sitting.
Annabeth looked confused. "For what?"
"For losing the Quidditch game," he said cheekily. "It's a shame too since I'll be winning all of our duels when the club starts back up."
"Dream on."
"Reality on."
Annabeth laughed at that despite herself. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Seaweed Brain, but Slytherin's winning," she quipped, leaving no room for debate. "And our duel record's not even close."
Percy shook his head with a smile and leaned over the table to kiss her on the cheek before eyeing the breakfast laid out before him. He stacked his plate high with buttermilk pancakes (blue, of course, thanks to a certain charm he'd learned) before drenching them with nearly an entire cup of syrup, making Annabeth roll her eyes.
"You're drowning them!" She chided.
"Hey, my dad is Poseidon," he said with his mouth full. "I can't drown. And neither can my pancakes."
She scoffed in amusement. "Mm, now if only you were a real demigod."
"Maybe in another universe."
"Maybe."
As they ate, two distinct thuds sounded from beside them.
"'Sup, losers," Thalia greeted, plucking the pancake bite that was already on Percy's fork and popping it into her mouth. "Ready to get your arse kicked, kelp head?"
Percy grinned at her, his teeth coated with syrup and pancake bits. "You wish, pinecone face."
"That's gross," Nico commented, his face screwing up in disgust as Thalia burst out laughing. "You guys nervous? First game of the season and all."
"Nope," Annabeth said, finishing off her breakfast. "This should be fun."
"For us." Thalia smirked confidently. "Imagine if you had been on the team with me since the beginning, Annie—"
"Don't call me Annie."
"—the two best Chasers Slytherin's ever seen. And with Reyna as our third? We would've never lost."
Percy lifted his fork at her. "Until you met me, of course."
Thalia rolled her eyes fondly. "Yeah, yeah, we'll see, Seeker boy."
He gestured a little ways over to his right where Silena and Beckendorf were eating and chatting animatedly. Those two had been on the team ever since their second year. Silena was a Chaser while Beckendorf was the Keeper.
"Good luck beating out Silena."
Thalia blinked. He had a point. A very good one, as much as she loathed to admit it.
At first sight, no one would expect it, but Silena was easily the best flyer in the school. And she'd spent the last month and a half whipping the Gryffindors into shape. A contemplative expression crossed Thalia's face as she took all of that into account. Maybe this wouldn't be as easy as she thought.
"I still don't know how you became Seeker," Nico teased, fiddling with his skull ring. "You're like the least coordinated person ever."
Percy laughed. "Thanks, bro. Love the vote of confidence."
The team's previous Seeker had graduated so everyone at tryouts was vying for the spot, especially the enthusiastic underclassmen who had hopes of going pro. But Percy was determined to beat out all the competition. And he'd done just that.
They continued eating and bickering until the captains announced it was time to go. The Gryffindor and Slytherin tables, a combined mass of maroon and green, cheered as the Quidditch players made their way down the middle of the hall.
Percy had been looking forward to this for an entire month. Growing up Muggle, he was absolutely fascinated by Quidditch. What's not to love about people on flying brooms throwing balls into hoops? It was like basketball on crack.
Just as the two teams were about to go their separate ways to their respective locker rooms, Annabeth surged forward and caught Percy in a kiss, earning several cheers and wolf whistles. She couldn't help it. He had very kissable lips.
"Good luck."
"Mm, thanks, you too," Percy mumbled, leaning down to kiss her again. His thumbs stroked her cheeks as he cradled her face. "Might have forgo the match if this is what I get before we even play."
She hummed contently. "Such a charmer."
Desire crossed Percy's face and Annabeth could tell that he was seriously considering his last statement. And if it wouldn't completely make them lose face, she would've wholeheartedly gone along with it.
Annabeth breathed a laugh against his lips. "Get going, Seaweed Brain. I'll see you on the field."
Taking one more liberty, she pulled him in for another long, passionate kiss that left their heads spinning. His hand settled on the side of her neck and the air left their lungs, the space between them nonexistent.
Percy smiled, lopsided and goofy. "Wow," he whispered.
"Hmm," Annabeth nodded her agreement and dropped her hands to his chest, trying to catch her breath.
With a devious smirk, she swiftly reached around him and slapped his ass hard, bursting out laughing at how his entire body jolted in surprise, his cheeks (the ones on his face, well, now the other ones too probably) tinting with color. She quickly stepped out of his embrace before he could regain his bearings and ran down the hall behind her teammates.
Turning, Annabeth hollered, "Your arse looks absolutely delicious in those pants."
Percy blinked, still frozen.
Fucking hell.
-xotwod-
The autumn weather was cool.
The grass crunched underfoot as Percy strode down to the stadium. The rest of the Gryffindor team surrounded him, wearing confident, eager expressions that made his nervousness quell a little bit. But then again, most of them had competed before.
The roar of the crowd was also a bit unsettling, but he managed to ignore it when he caught sight of the Slytherin team, a sea of green and silver, approaching.
His eyes zeroed in on the blonde haired Chaser, strutting confidently and smirking at him. She stood in line with her teammates, graceful and assertive as ever, holding her Firebolt like she'd done this a thousand times before.
This was Annabeth. He shouldn't have expected anything less.
Percy winked at her, laughing when she winked back and blew him a kiss, which he pretended to catch. And just like that, the nerves had filtered away, replaced with an excitement that only she could bring out.
"Captains shake hands. I want a nice fair game, and all that hoo-haa," Ares barked, shooting a meaningful look at his daughter, Clarisse, the Slytherin captain. She in turn glared menacingly back at him, drawing a hearty laugh from her father.
They have a strange relationship, Percy thought, dropping a sweat.
"Now, mount your brooms. On my mark… three, two—phwwwhht!"
At the blast of Ares' silver whistle, the players kicked off, zipping into the sky. Percy and Octavian, Slytherin's Seeker, flew higher than the others and watched as the other players sped across the field. A miniscule glint of gold streaked in front of their eyes before disappearing out of sight in a flash.
The game was on.
Percy climbed higher and higher, getting a good vantage point of the field. He shook his head and watched amusedly as Octavian made laps around the pitch, ducking around bludgers and Chasers.
Leo Valdez's announcer voice boomed and a thunderous round of applause went around the stadium, mostly from the Slytherins, as the first goal was scored. Percy couldn't help but clap too, grinning widely because it was Annabeth who did it.
Every student, no matter their house, watched the match with thrumming excitement. This was always the case with Quidditch. Winning the House Cup didn't hurt either. Slytherin had won the last two years in a row, riling up the Gryffindors to no end.
"—Beauregard snatches the quaffle, looking fantastic as ever in her uniform… a quick pass to Zhang, Zhang to Rashid—oh! It's stolen by Grace! She's going, going—passes to Arellano—Arellano to Chase. And Chase is going all the way! She's done it again, that's another goal for Slytherin! Her fourth one already! Percy, are you seeing this, mate?!"
Percy laughed and shook his head. "That's my girl," he murmured proudly.
The score was 60-30 with Slytherin leading. Beckendorf probably wasn't too happy about that.
He made sure to stay alert for bludgers as he tracked his eyes across the field. I should've tried out for Chaser, he thought, wanting to be in the action. The Chasers and Beaters looked to be having the time of their lives. Being a Seeker involved doing a whole lot of nothing, he'd come to realize.
The Slytherins were having the time of their lives. Again and again, they scored, but the sight before him now made Percy forcibly press his lips shut.
"I don't believe my eyes! Grace and Chase are playing keep away with the quaffle from Zhang! Oh! And he's off his broom, that's gotta hurt! I've seen it all now, folks! Good god, what does Hazel see in him when I'm right here?!"
Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh, Percy repeated in his head, eyes alight with mirth. He loved Leo. Little bastard was always fun to be around. Definitely the most eccentric Ravenclaw in the school.
The grin slipped off his face when he saw a glint of gold flash in the corner of his eye. Percy crouched on his broom, his gaze locked on the speedy little bugger as he zoomed across the Quidditch pitch. When he reached it, his eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he stuttered to a stop.
Percy lost focus on his surroundings, but it wasn't the snitch that shocked him. No, just beyond where it was, in the spectator's stand, sat a bearded man with black hair, sea green eyes, and an unmistakable grin on his face, staring straight back at him.
Poseidon Jackson.
"Dad," Percy whispered.
Over the past few weeks, Hermione had been sneakily sending him letters from his father while he was still in Azkaban. So when Percy had heard about his release, he was over the moon. Especially when his father said he wanted to surprise his mother. They kept all details of his release quiet so Sally remained unsuspecting. Percy would've given anything to have seen the look on her face when she saw his dad again after all these years.
The last he'd seen Poseidon was during his visit over the summer. Locked in a fucking cage. And so the feeling of seeing him now in person, out of his confines, literally just thirty feet away, was indescribable.
"Move it, Jackson!" A crass voice broke him out of his reverie, and Percy was nearly knocked off his broom as Octavian deliberately collided with him before speeding upward.
The snitch!
Octavian was a real piece of work. Percy gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed in anger as he chased after him. With his father watching, his competitive drive flared and a new sense of purpose burned in him. He had to win now.
He would win.
Percy accelerated, keeping his head tucked as the wind whistled and beat against him so fast that the sound of Leo's excited commentary was little more than whisper. The snitch was speeding along high above them, catching the sun's light and glinting against the clear blue sky.
"You really think you can beat me, Jackson?" Octavian taunted, pulling further ahead him and extending his arm. "Keep dreaming!"
Percy cursed under his breath. Octavian for all his faults was still a good flyer. He was close, closer than him to snitch. A little further and he'd have it. The little golden ball whizzed side to side, staying just out of his reach, but then, without a moment's notice, the snitch shifted direction, zipping right between Percy and Octavian and heading back to the pitch.
Who the hell gave the snitch a pepper up potion?
The arena was absolutely electric when they saw Percy and Octavian rocketing down, their red and green robes billowing, trailing wildly behind them like a comet tail. In nearly expert fashion, Percy dove, grabbing the handle and tipping his broom straight down, hurtling vertically downward before pulling up only a few meters from the ground. The snitch was within his grasp.
He just had to reach out—
An elbow jostled his shoulder. Octavian had caught up to him, glaring as they flew neck and neck. Damned hack.
"You're such a little bitch, Octavian!" Percy growled.
Octavian sneered. "Yeah, yeah, go cry to your mum about it!"
Oh, what he'd give to get that skinny little prick's neck in his hands. There was time for that later, though. He had a game to win.
Percy kept his eyes on the snitch that was still whirring tauntingly in front of them. He couldn't afford to lose track of it again. Without shifting his gaze, Percy, as loud as he could, yelled out, "Travis! Connor! On me!"
"What the hell are you screaming for, Jackson?" Octavian slighted. "No one's gonna help you!"
The Stoll twins, the Gryffindor Beaters, thankfully knew exactly what Percy wanted. Travis was closest. He timed a Bludger, and with a ferocious swing of his bat, beat it straight toward the racing Seekers.
With bated breath, the crowd watched as Percy pulled ahead, flying directly in front of Octavian. The Bludger cut through the air with alarming speed, barreling straight toward Percy.
"Percy!" He heard a voice shout in fear.
Annabeth.
Damn, she'd probably scream at him later for this.
Percy pushed that thought to the back of his mind and kept flying. This had to be done perfectly or else he might not be conscious for Annabeth to yell at him.
The tips of their shoes grazed the ground, kicking up dirt and grass as they moved at blinding speeds. With the fast approaching Bludger, Percy gripped his broom and waited… waited… until the Bludger was only a few seconds away from impact—
With a great heave, he pulled and shot into the air.
Octavian's eyes widened seeing the Bludger, but he could do nothing as it slammed into him, shattering his broom and effectively putting him out of commission. It might've been a little cruel, but Percy laughed at the Slytherin Seeker's misfortune. Served him right.
The crowd roared thunderously as every student stood up and clapped. Percy had caught the snitch. Gryffindor won.
"Percy fucking Jackson!" Silena yelled excitedly as she landed, gathering him up in a fierce hug. "Sweet Morgana, that was amazing!"
The Stolls followed shortly after.
"We're winning the cup this year, Travis."
"First time you said something right all day, Connor."
Beckendorf ran up and Percy suddenly found himself lifted up in the air as the Gryffindor team cheered around him. It was a rather impressive feat considering Percy was by no means small and Beckendorf had done it by himself. With one arm no less. Percy grinned widely and congratulated everyone else too.
But his mind was on something else entirely.
-xotwod-
"Dad," Percy called, almost hesitantly. "You're here."
Poseidon had filled out better, closer to how he looked in the photo album, his hair was still long but now tamed, his beard was trimmed neatly albeit with a few more touches of gray, and his skin had gone back to a deep tan. He'd gotten rid of his grubby prison rags and now sported a Hawaiian shirt and shorts. Percy idly thanked the gods he hadn't inherited his fashion sense from his dad.
The one thing that hadn't changed though was the beaming smile on his face.
"Hey, son." Poseidon wrapped his arms around Percy, sweeping him up in a tight hug that his son returned with equal strength. "What the hell have they been feeding you?"
"Huh?"
"You should've seen yourself on that field. Merlin's beard, boy, you're a natural!"
Percy ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Thanks, dad. And thanks for the broom too. She works like a charm."
"I saw," he said cheerfully. "You were really milking that thing. And hey, that platinum haired kid had it coming. When he bumped you, I was about to get on a broom myself."
"That would've been something. Zeus would probably have a heart attack."
"Zeus?" Poseidon scoffed incredulously, chuckling. "That idiot will stay sitting on his arse if he knows what's good for him. I'm telling you, son, he's like the biggest git ever."
Percy burst out laughing. "Oh, yeah?"
"Hell yeah. Me and that old fool go way back. I reckon he's still pissy at me for the thousand Galleons I won from him."
"Oh, you've got to tell me about that!"
Percy and Poseidon walked along the grounds, a little ways away from where the students were heading back to the castle, talking and conversing in a way that was long overdue.
"How did you get into the castle, by the way?" Percy asked.
Poseidon grinned knowingly. "Can't reveal all my secrets just yet."
Of course, Percy thought with a smile, rolling his eyes. There was a certain, unparalleled warmth that Percy felt whenever he spoke with his father. This was completely different from their terse conversation in Azkaban. More casual, more open. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way the entire time. As they talked, Percy couldn't help but think about his mother. Had his father gone back home before coming here? He'd asked as much and was surprised when Poseidon shook his head, his smile waning.
"Trust me, Percy, I'd like nothing more." He looked away, clenching a fist so hard his knuckles turned white. "But I want you to be there. I want our family to be whole when all of us reunite."
Percy scoffed and spread his hands. "If that's all, then I'll go back with you."
Poseidon shook his head. "Your mother will kill me if I make you miss school," he chuckled a little. "Besides, I can't go home right away. There's… there's something I have to do. I should be done by the time your winter holiday rolls around."
A flood of anger washed through Percy's entire being. His shoulders shook and he grit his teeth, his eyes shut tight.
"Percy…"
"You're going on an Auror mission?" Percy hissed, glaring at his father. "You've been out of Azkaban for what, like a week? Go home to mum! You don't have to do everything by yourself! Get Harry and the other Aurors to do something. Are they useless, or something?"
Poseidon stepped closer to his son and placed his hands on Percy's shoulders, squeezing tightly. Distress was clear on the younger man's face, but his father's touch sent pulses of warm reassurance. A silence passed over them, twin sea green eyes locked with swirling emotion.
"I want to be at home right now with you and Sally more than anything," Poseidon said softly. His solemn expression broke into one of unwavering resolve. "But this mission… this is something only I can do. Trust me, I'll be fine."
Percy took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose, his expression still troubled. "You keep asking me to trust you. But how can I do that when you keep leaving us? Do you have any idea what you being in Azkaban has done to mum?"
Poseidon looked pained. "That's not fair, son."
"Funny how that works, huh?" Percy returned sarcastically.
His father sighed. "I've told you I was on a mission before my imprisonment, and now I have to finish it."
"That's the thing," Percy pressed, swallowing another wave of anger. "You shouldn't have to do anything right now."
"I know. I'm sorry." Poseidon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "But it's not for the Ministry, you know? I could give a rat's arse about them."
Percy hummed but didn't say anything, staring off at the castle. The clouds were starting to become gray. And the air seemed cooler, chilly.
Poseidon nudged Percy's shoulder with his, trying for a smile. "Worried about your old man?"
"Something like that."
"I appreciate it, Percy. I really do," he said softly. "Do you remember my promise in Azkaban?"
Percy turned and looked at him. Of course, he remembered. That entire day had been looping through his mind constantly. "Yeah," he murmured.
"I don't intend to break it," Poseidon boasted, making Percy smirk a little.
"Good because there's nothing in this world, let alone a dark wizard, that can match up to mum when she's angry."
Poseidon threw his head back and cackled. "Don't I know it."
His laughter, however, stopped abruptly when Percy withdrew his wand, twirling it between his fingers. His face was pensive, lost in thought.
"Uh, son?" Poseidon prodded. "You're about a million years too early to duel me."
"Don't test me, old man. I'll kick your arse some other day," Percy laughed softly and pointed his wand at the castle. Specifically, Gryffindor tower. "Accio!"
Father and son stared out at the castle; Percy was starting to get impatient while Poseidon looked confused. Then, a pane of a window near the top of the tower shattered and something indiscernible was flying at them at breakneck speed.
Percy raised a hand to catch it, but continued to stare at the broken window, scratching his scalp with his wand. "Shit, I need to fix that before Chiron sees."
"Percy, what is that?" Poseidon asked, nodding at the cream colored cloth bag in his son's hand.
"Oh, this?" Percy smirked, reaching inside and pulling something out that made Poseidon's eyes widen. "Recognize it?"
"Is that… is that my wand?"
Percy held out the magical instrument to his father and watched as he nimbly got a feel for it again after so many years. He thought back to when he first got his wand almost seven years ago; this must've been something like what Ollivander felt whenever he sold a wand.
"Where did you get this?" Poseidon asked, getting a feel for it again. "This wand was supposed to have been snapped."
Percy crossed his arms and smiled. "Let's not worry about the details right now. I'll tell you some other time."
"Thank you, son," Poseidon said, pulling Percy in for another hug. Before he could respond, his dad spoke again. "Oh, hey, isn't that Annabeth over there?"
Percy followed his gaze and smiled seeing his gorgeous girlfriend still in her Quidditch uniform. Her honey blonde hair was out of its ponytail now, swept over her shoulders and flowing gently with the wind like spindled gold. She was waving at him and he raised a hand to wave back, beckoning her over.
But when he turned back to look at his dad, Poseidon was gone. Percy looked around and shook his head, scoffing with a disbelieving smile.
Typical.
With a wide grin on his face, he ran and met Annabeth halfway, gathering her up in a tight hug. Annabeth laughed, settling her hands on his shoulders when he lifted her up and spun her.
"You're happy," she commented, smiling. "But don't get a big head, Seaweed Brain. This is just one win."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he laughed, setting her down. "You did great too. More goals than all the Chasers combined! It makes sense since—"
"If you make a single joke about my last name, I won't kiss you for a week."
The words fell short on his lips as he stared at her trying to see if she was serious. Annabeth gazed back at him with raised eyebrows, a challenge. Percy chuckled and shook his head, leaning down to peck her lips a few times, lingering on the last one. Nope, this was way too good to give up.
"My dad was just here," he murmured when they separated."Did you see him?"
Her brows scrunched adorably. "What? No. But he can't be here, I thought he'd be—"
"At my house, I know. That's what I thought too."
Her hand went up to cup his cheek. "Is that why you went rushing off after the match? I got a little worried."
"Yeah," he confirmed, his arms sliding around her waist. "I saw him in the stands."
He spent the next few minutes retelling her what he'd just learned as they walked back into the castle, watching as she processed it all. There was something going on in the magical world, she surmised. Something the public wasn't privy to. And if Percy's father was the one on the mission, then it was definitely something big.
A storm was brewing.
"Well," she breathed in a sort of disbelieving manner. "this year certainly won't be boring."
He laughed. "Yeah, that's for sure."
They stopped near the entrance of the dungeons where the Slytherin common room was. Annabeth stepped up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"I'm gonna go shower and change."
"Yeah, same."
"I'll meet you in the Great Hall then, yeah?"
Percy nodded. "See you in a bit."
With a light jab to his chest, she added, "And don't think I forgot about that shit you pulled during the match."
"Damn," he chuckled, shoulders dropping as he scratched the back of his head. "I was kinda counting on it."
She sighed in exasperation, deeming she'd berate him later. "Okay, I really need to go now. I smell."
He nodded seriously. "You do."
A laugh left her. "Prat. Okay, see you."
Just as she turned around, a smirk shaped his mouth. "Oh, and Wise Girl?"
She was about to swivel around. "Yes—"
SLAP!
"Percy!" Annabeth gasped, blushing profusely as her hips stuttered.
Percy chuckled quietly as he kept his right hand firmly on her ass, squeezing every so often. He wrapped an arm around her waist to turn and press her flush against him, left hand dropping to join his right. Annabeth laid her hands on his chest as he pressed light kisses to her jaw.
"Your arse looks absolutely amazing in those pants," he murmured, teasing.
"Percy," she whispered.
"Yes, Annabeth?" He hummed, ghosting his lips along the shell of her ear. A shudder went through her as he squeezed her ass once more, harder this time. "Mm, feels amazing, too."
"Broom cupboard?" She breathed.
He smothered a smile. "Is that what you want?"
"Is that what you're offering?"
"It could be," he admitted, nipping at her ear some more. "But…"
"But?" She echoed, turning her head to give him easier access.
His lips moved down to her neck, teeth dragging against her pulse, which felt fucking heavenly, and trailed down to her collarbones. Annabeth felt all wound and coiled, and the deliberate slowness of his kisses were simultaneously riling her up and giving her pleasure. It was a convoluted mix and she was ready to snap.
"But you need to take a shower," he said, giving her ass another gentle smack, before abruptly letting go and starting toward the staircase. "And hurry up, I'm starving. I think I'll finally try that pecan thing you were talking about."
"You can't be serious," Annabeth deadpanned, mouth closing and opening as she stood there in shock. "That's not fair!"
"Sorry, love." Percy shot her a grin that turned into full blown laughter when the staircase began moving before she could reach it. "All's fair in love and war."
"Percy!"